June 23, 2014 

Scott Faulk 

Transportation Industry Analyst 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

Office of Aviation Analysis 

EAS & Domestic Analysis Division 

1200 New Jersey Ave., SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

SHENANDOAH VALLEY REGIONAL AIRPORT COMMISSION 

RE: Essential Air Service Proposal 

Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport 

Staunton, Va. 

Dear Mr. Faulk: 

The Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport Commission (SHD) is the regional government agency 

representing the five member localities and jurisdictions that constitute the Airport Commission. These 

include: the Cities of Staunton, Harrisonburg and Waynesboro; and the Counties of Augusta and 

Rockingham. I am writing to you today as Chairman of the Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport 

Commission and as the representative ofthe broader community regarding the Department of 

Transportation's recent request for proposals to provide essential air service to our community. 

Thank you for forwarding the proposals we received and allowing us the opportunity to submit 

community comments. While we are appreciative of all proposals received and feel fortunate to have 

interest from more than one carrier, we endorse the May 27, 2014 proposal from Silver Airways/DBA as 

United Express/United Connection, the incumbent carrier at SHD. 

Due to the uniqueness of our market, the fact it is one of the fastest growing regions in the 

Commonwealth of Virginia and thus the need for our community to have international access to the 

global markets, we feel the combination Silver and their code-share partnership with United and service 

to United's hub at Washington Dulles is the best option. We also feel Silver's use ofthe Saab 3408+ 

aircraft with its seat capacity and modern amenities are preferable for our community. With this 

current service and the remarkable growth in our community, passenger traffic has increased 

significantly and we feel strongly the current service should continue. 

Thank you in advance for your willingness to allow us to review the proposals and provide comment on 

behalf ofthe community. Should you have any questions or need any additional information, please 

feel to contact Greg Campbell, the Airport Commission's Executive Director, or me at any time. 

PO Box 125 · 77 Aviation Circle · Weyers Cave, Virginia 24486 USA . 540.234.8304 · Fax: 540.234.8538 · flyshd.com 

COUNTY OF AUGUSTA 

Gerald W. Garber 

CITY OF STAUNTON 

Maggie A. Ragon 

CITY OF HARRISONBURG 

Joseph B. Bowman 

CITY OF WAYNESBORO COUNTY OF ROCKINGHAM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 

Jeffrey A. Ward William G. O'Brien Gregory W. Campbell 
SHENANDOAH VALLEY REGIONAL AIRPORT COMMISSION 

We sincerely appreciate the Departments efforts on our behalf to secure critical air service to our 

community. Thank you in advance for your assistance. 

Sincerely, 

Gerald W. Garber, Chairman 

Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport Commission 

cc: SVRA Commission Members 

Lacey B. King, Jr., Mayor, Staunton, Va. 

Stephen F. Owen, City Manager, Staunton, Va. 

Randy Burdette, Director, Virginia Department of Aviation 

PO Box 125 · 77 Aviation Circle · Weyers Cave, Virginia 24486 USA . 540.234.8304 · Fax: 540.234.8538 · flyshd.com 

COUNTY OF AUGUSTA 

Gerald W. Garber 

CITY OF STAUNTON 

Maggie A. Ragon 

CITY OF HARRISONBURG 

Joseph B. Bowman 

CITY OF WAYNESBORO COUNTY OF ROCKINGHAM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 

Jeffrey A. Ward William G. O'Brien Gregory W. Campbell